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Friday, November 21, 2008 1:12:19 AM GMT

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Taboo talk: The journey of Iranian-American talk show host

Washington, August 21, 2008 (IranVNC)—Her voice on the airwaves in Northern Virginia has been therapeutic to the Iranian-American community. For the past decade, Gelareh Bassiry made it her mission to discuss what her traditional society told her not to, and much more.

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16.30 GMT-12:30 PM/EST

Ever since she was five, Gelareh Bassiry was curious about helping others.

Gelareh Bassiry, Iranian-American radio host: “I was very naughty, curious… always sensitive about family and people’s pain and always wanted to know where it came from.”

The little girl from Tehran never lost sight of her innate desire to help throughout the years. Today she hosts her own radio program at Fairfax Public Access Radio and TV station, helping the Iranian-American community throughout Northern Virginia.

Gelareh: “It is called Khaleh Gili. Khaleh means the aunt.”
(TALK SHOW DISCUSSION - Gelareh: “For years, I have been familiar with the Iranian community school and its financial struggles.” Guest: “There are various fundraising opportunities in American schools. We are applying this type of fundraising only to this school.”)

And Gelareh also talks hot taboo issues:

Gelareh: “We have discussed domestic violence in our program… Traditionally, in a patriarchal society, a lot of things are considered normal in the way of life and it is not considered domestic violence or domestic abuse, like if you put down your wife or belittle them, it is just your right and your wife is part of your belongings. And that has always been a big issue for me and a hard one to deal with.”

And that is why she does this professionally.

Gelareh: “I work for a non-profit organization with abused women and children. I also believe we cannot just heal the community by catering to victims. I do also work with the abusers… I’ve had a case of a woman who was stabbed 10 times. It was a horrible thing to see and a horrible thing for the children to witness.”

That 28-year-old victim is now under legal protection and is healing along with her two children. The husband was jailed and now attends Gelareh’s anger management
class.

(GELAREH TALKING TO PERSON AT FRONT DESK)

Every Saturday at noon, Gelarah is here in studio. The mother of two has been volunteering a full-day’s work on her show every week for the past decade.

Gelareh: “This is very close to my heart. It is a way I can communicate with other Iranians in our community… console them; I can let them know they are not alone and we can discuss the issues we were told not to discuss.”

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Taboo talk: The journey of Iranian-American talk show host

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